{"id":560620,"date":"2020-08-16T06:30:02","date_gmt":"2020-08-16T10:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=560620"},"modified":"2020-08-16T06:27:59","modified_gmt":"2020-08-16T10:27:59","slug":"wolves-season-closed-gap-on-top-six","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/08\/16\/wolves-season-closed-gap-on-top-six\/","title":{"rendered":"Wolverhampton Wanderers 19\/20: A Season That Closed the Gap on the Top Six"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a season that began over a year ago, Wolves<\/a>\u00a0once again added to their growing reputation as a team to fear as well as admire. Esp\u00edrito Santo’s side finished a solid seventh for the second consecutive season to silence the original doubters; doubters who once bellowed that Wolves stood no chance in balancing Europa League progression alongside Premier League<\/a> solidity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Those that once bellowed, however, now sit back and admire a Wolves side bettering the likes of Arsenal<\/a> and Everton<\/a> while progressing into the knock out rounds of the Europa League. In their second season back in the top flight, Wolves captured the imagination of fans, while pulling off results that are becoming all too ordinary to be classed as upsets. Overall, it has been another successful season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Double Delight Against the Former Champions<\/h3>\n

Last season, Wolves\u2019 reintroduction to the Premier League should have provided plenty with warning signs of their growing capabilities. However, in the space of two fatal months, Manchester City<\/a> learned the hard way not once, but twice, when underestimating Esp\u00edrito Santo\u2019s side.<\/span><\/p>\n

Guardiola\u2019s side welcomed Wolves to the Etihad in need of a comfortable night after already falling behind in the title race to a flying Liverpool<\/a> side. Yet, as City have learned this season, never expect a comfortable night against Wolves- especially with Adama Traor\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0on the pitch.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Spanish winger linked up with Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez<\/a>, in what has become a consistent feature in the Wolves side, to seal the upset at the Etihad with an unforgettable brace in the last 10 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both were cool, calm and collected finishes that highlighted Traor\u00e9\u2019s crucial end product improvement. Wolves had mauled City\u2019s title defence; Traor\u00e9\u00a0proved naysayers wrong and Jim\u00e9nez\u00a0continued his pursuit to be recognised as one of the best forwards in the league. It was the perfect day for Wolves, one they didn\u2019t think could possibly be bettered. Well, think again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beat the champions once, and people take a quick glimpse; beat them twice, though, and people begin to sit up and take notice. And, in December, just two months after the victory at the Etihad, people were once again watching on as Wolves dismantled City\u2019s title credentials. October\u2019s defeat harmed City\u2019s title defence; December\u2019s finished it.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Night to Remember for the Wolves Season at Molineux<\/h3>\n

Ask a Wolves fan to sum up their side using a result, and December\u2019s victory will be the answer that follows. The result epitomised what Esp\u00edrito Santo has built at the Molineux; a side with grit, attacking talent, free-flowing football and the ability to take the occasional seat at the big table.<\/span><\/p>\n

The game, labelled as the chance for revenge by Sky Sports, began in that fashion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the early red card to Ederson<\/a>, Guardiola\u2019s side burst into a comfortable 2-0 lead courtesy of a Raheem Sterling<\/a> brace. Usually, in this situation, most sides crumble; the end score becomes embarrassing, and Manchester City show their ruthlessness. Not on this occasion, however.<\/span><\/p>\n

On this occasion, Wolves went against the norm in a stunning second-half display to expose City\u2019s weakness for all to see. Traor\u00e9 hit the first, almost giving Guardiola flashbacks of an October nightmare; Jim\u00e9nez\u00a0then levelled to send Molineux into delirium and send City back to that fatal night.<\/span><\/p>\n

A draw, from two goals down, would have been lauded by those now sitting wide-eyed at Santo\u2019s side. But, a win would have confirmed Wolves\u2019 battle for a place amongst the big boys. And, after Doherty\u2019s<\/a> goal with just minutes left to play, Wolves rightfully pulled up a chair to the table of the big six.<\/span><\/p>\n

The win was one of the games of the season, and all but ended City\u2019s title hopes before \u2018happy new year\u2019 could even be cheered.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for Wolves, a Christmas comeback will be seen as the game of a season full of enticing affairs and victories throughout. It was a stunning comeback which summed up one of the most entertaining sides in the league.<\/span><\/p>\n

Player of the Season<\/h3>\n

When thinking of standout players in Wolves\u2019 season, two names instantly come to mind. Ra\u00fal\u00a0Jim\u00e9nez\u00a0and Adama Traor\u00e9. The two have combined to create a deadly duo this season, full of pace, power, technical class and clinical finishing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Traor\u00e9, the powerhouse of the two, is like no other player in the league. His pace, like an Olympic sprinter; power like a body builder\u2019s; technical ability, growing significantly. The only way to stop him has been through force this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim\u00e9nez, often the benefactor or provider to Traor\u00e9, deserves credit, too. The Mexican is one of the most technically gifted forwards in the Premier League.<\/span><\/p>\n

He holds traits similar to that of Roberto Firmino<\/a> while upholding a clinical nature in front of goal similar to the likes of Anthony Martial.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

He plays the role of goalscorer and creator simultaneously in this Wolves side, and is often at the centre of their success. The Mexican is the lynchpin that holds his side together perfectly. With 37 goal involvements, too, it\u2019s difficult to look past Jim\u00e9nez\u00a0as the Wolves player of the season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moments to Forget<\/h3>\n

The Wolves season has been full of many memorable moments, but this does not mean moments to forget haven\u2019t occurred. Post lockdown results, in particular, proved to be their ultimate downfall in a season-long dream of Champions League<\/a> qualification.<\/span><\/p>\n

Losses to Arsenal<\/a> and Chelsea<\/a> proved fatal in the end as Wolves were forced to settle for a place in next season\u2019s second qualifying round of the Europa League. A loss at the death to Sheffield United<\/a> also did significant damage.<\/span><\/p>\n

The dream of Champions League football became a reachable reality for some time and, but for their inconsistencies, Wolves would have been in the draw ahead of next season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although, it must be said, Wolves did not look out of place when battling for a position alongside side Manchester United<\/a>, Chelsea<\/a> and Leicester<\/a>– giving Esp\u00edrito Santo hope for further improvement next season.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to Expect From Wolves Next Season<\/h3>\n

Ahead of next season, Nuno Esp\u00edrito\u00a0Santo will hope to keep hold of current stars and, after coming close in the campaign just gone, take a permanent place in the Premier League\u2019s top six. Further progression in Europe will also be a target for Wolves next season. They crashed out to Sevilla in the quarter-finals in the season just gone, but provided us all with plenty of entertainment along the way of their European tour.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>